Timeline April 1912

Events in April 1912 17

• 1821 – 1912 Clara Barton (1821-1912) Died 12 April 1912, aged 90 Clara Barton founded the American Red Cross in 1881 after serving as a battlefield nurse during the American Civil War. She led the organization for 23 years, establishing disaster relief as a permanent national institution.
• 1847 – 1912 Bram Stoker Irish novelist Stoker wrote Dracula, defining modern vampire fiction and Gothic horror literature.
• 1912 – 1969 Sonja Henie (1912-1969) Norwegian figure skater, three-time Olympic champion and ten-time world champion, who became a Hollywood star.
• 1912 Sonja Henie born in Oslo Sonja Henie is born in Oslo.
• 1912 Titanic departs Southampton Maiden voyage begins — April 10, 1912 The RMS Titanic departed Southampton on her maiden voyage at noon on April 10, 1912, bound for New York City. She carried 2,224 passengers and crew, including some of the wealthiest people in the world.
• 1912 Iceberg spotted Lookout Fleet rings the alarm — 11:40 PM Lookout Frederick Fleet spotted an iceberg directly ahead and rang the warning bell three times, calling the bridge: "Iceberg, right ahead!" Officer Murdoch immediately ordered "hard a-starboard" and full astern.
• 1912 Iceberg warnings received Multiple ships warn of ice ahead — 9:00 AM The Titanic received multiple ice warnings throughout April 14 from other ships in the area. Captain Smith chose to maintain full speed of 22 knots despite the warnings, a decision that would prove fatal.
• 1912 Titanic strikes the iceberg Starboard side torn open — 11:50 PM The Titanic struck the iceberg at 11:40 PM, scraping along its starboard side for about 10 seconds. The collision buckled and separated hull plates across six compartments. The ship could float with four flooded — she had five.
• 1912 Carpathia arrives Survivors rescued from lifeboats — 4:00 AM The RMS Carpathia arrived at the scene at 4:00 AM, 1 hour and 40 minutes after the Titanic sank. She rescued 710 survivors from the lifeboats over the next four hours before sailing to New York.
• 1912 Carpathia picks up distress signal SS Carpathia turns and races to help — 12:25 AM The RMS Carpathia received the Titanic's CQD distress call at 12:25 AM and immediately turned around, pushing her engines beyond their limits to reach the stricken liner 58 miles away.
• 1912 First lifeboat launched Lifeboat 7 leaves with only 28 people — 12:45 AM The first lifeboat, Lifeboat 7, was launched at 12:45 AM carrying only 28 people — less than half its capacity of 65. Many passengers refused to believe the ship was sinking and declined to board. Distress rockets were fired.
• 1912 – 1994 Kim Il Sung (1912-1994) Died 8 July 1994, aged 81 Kim Il Sung, founder and long-ruling leader of North Korea, died of a heart attack, prompting a formal ten-day mourning period. His son Kim Jong Il succeeded him, beginning a dynastic leadership that continues today.
• 1912 Last lifeboat departs Over 1,500 people left aboard — 2:05 AM The last collapsible lifeboat left the Titanic at 2:05 AM with over 1,500 people still aboard. The ship's bow was now fully submerged and the stern was rising out of the water. The band played on.
• 1912 Last radio message sent "Every man for himself" — 2:17 AM The final radio message was transmitted at 2:17 AM: "Every man for himself." Radio operator Jack Phillips continued sending until the power failed. He did not survive.
• 1912 Lifeboats ordered uncovered Captain Smith assesses the damage — 12:05 AM Captain Smith ordered the lifeboats uncovered and passengers mustered at 12:05 AM, after ship designer Thomas Andrews told him the Titanic had at most two hours to live. There were lifeboats for only 1,178 of the 2,224 aboard.
• 1912 Titanic sinks 1,500 lives lost RMS Titanic struck an iceberg on April 14, 1912 and sank, killing over 1,500 passengers in one of the deadliest peacetime maritime disasters.
• 1912 Fenway Park opens in Boston Home of the Boston Red Sox Fenway Park hosts its first game on 20 April 1912, as the Boston Red Sox defeat the New York Highlanders. It becomes the oldest ballpark still in use in Major League Baseball.